Amusement device.



M.. B. BECKER.

AMUSEMENT DEVIUE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1907.

940,664. Patented Nov. 23, 1909. ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

Am! 1:0,, moraumocnwnsns WASHINGION n c Patented Nbv. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHHET 2.

$20672 for" MATHIAS B. BECKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIMUSE'MENT DEVICE.

Specification of Ietters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application filed November 21, 1907. Serial No. 403,215.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, IVIATHIAS B. BECKER, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to. which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in an amusement device, the object being to provide a novel and safe device of this character which will afford great amusement and sensational surprises to the occupants, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is a plan view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. -2 is a central vertical section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. -3 is a plan view of a tub employed and forming a part of the device. Fig. is a central vertical section on the line el4; of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 55 of Fig. -1 showing the manner of mounting the pins or posts on the rotating platform of the device.

My invention consists essentially in providing movable cylindrical cars or tubs equipped with a seat and which are adapted to coast down an inclined plane equipped at intervals with posts against which the said tubs are projected during their travel and rotated and deflected out of their course and caused to collide with each other, thereby affording continual surprise and amusement to the occupants of said cars or tubs.

My invention consists further in providing an inclined plane or platform disposed on an inclined axis, said platform being equipped with said posts and with pockets adjacent its periphery in which said cars or tubs are caught and held to be carried from a lower to a higher elevation where they are again released to repeat their downward irregular travel.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a suitable embodiment of the invention in the broad conception thereof without special attention to such details as lie within the skill of the mechanic to supply to perfect the device.

In said drawings A indicates an inclined plane equipped at intervals with posts B. Cars or tubs C consisting of cylindrical receptacles provided with suitable casters I) and having annular seats E therein are adapted to coast down said plane A and to collide with and be ricocheted by said posts 13, so as to travel in an irregular manner and at variable speed from a higher to a lower elevation and be rotated during such travel. The occupantsof said cars or tubs are enabled to steady themselves by grasping the wheel F disposed on the center post G of each car.

To cushion the force of the collisions between cars and posts or of two cars with each other I dispose on each of the latter an annular cushion H of rubber or other suitable material.

My invent-ion also comprehends the use of any suitable means for returning the cars or tubs from a lower to a higher elevation on the plane and to accomplish this I prefer to make the plane A circular and dispose the same on an inclined axis I on which it revolves, the peripheral portion thereof being equipped with a rail J which travels on idlers K suitably supported, said plane or platform A being rotated by any suitable power actuated means such as the bevel gear L rigid therewith and meshing with the bevel pinion M on the shaft N, the latter being suitably geared to a source of power. The said plane or platform A is equipped adjacent its periphery with two annular rows of posts 0 disposed in staggered relation to each other in such manner that two posts 0 of the inner row, constituting proj ections, and one post of the outer row form a pocket in which one of said cars or tubs is adapted to be received and from which it cannot pass except toward the middle of said plane or platform, each of said cars or tubs being thus caught in a pocket as it reaches the lower portion of the plane or platform A and is then carried thereby to a higher elevation where such pocket becomes substantially inverted and the car or bucket passes out and again travels by gravity to the lower elevation. The said plane or platform A is surrounded by a stepped platform P which the passengers mount in order to enter the cars or tubs, the latter being held in the pockets by means of pins Q inserted in the holes R in the platform A to permit passengers to enter and leave the same at intervals in safety.

The pockets formed by the posts 0 are preferably bordered externally by small substantially triangular platforms S upon which the passengers step as they enter and leave the cars or tubs.

As previously stated the construction shown and described discloses the embodiment of the broad idea of the invention without particular attention to details, such construction being capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. The platform A, for example, consists of strong frame-work upon which a laminated floor is supported, the posts B and O passing through said floor and into sleeves T suitably rigidly supported on the frame-Work of the platform A.

To relieve the shaft I of strain, the plane or platform A is equipped peripherally with a rail U which travels on a plurality of idlers V disposed on axes parallel with the axis of the platform and which bear the lateral pressure due to the inclination of said platform.

I claim as my invention:

1. An amusement device comprising in combination an inclined rotating platform, cars movable by gravity on said platform and projections disposed near the peripheral portion of said platform and engaging said cars to carry the same from a lower to a higher elevation.

2. An amusement device comprising in combination, an inclined plane rotating on an inclined axis, cars traveling by gravity on said plane, means disposed adjacent the periphery of said plane and receiving said cars as they reach substantially the lowest portion of said plane and serving to return the same to a higher elevation, and means disposed on said plane in the paths of said cars to deflect the latter and cause the same to travel in an irregular course and at varied speed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing wit- R. P. COFFIN. 

